As we all know, social
networking is a huge percentage of all activity done on the internet now. The
question we're presenting is, has social networking evolved into a
technology that is addictive? So this question brought us across a study which
stated, " Those who primarily used the Internet for online chat
believed that the Internet is psychologically beneficial to them, but also
believed that frequent Internet users are lonely and that the Internet can be
addictive. It is argued that 'chat' users who are socially fearful may be using
the Internet as a form of low-risk social approach and an opportunity to
rehearse social behavior and communication skills, which, may help them improve
interaction with offline, face-to-face, social environments " (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.69).
With that being said,
along with experience in the topic being around many people others would deem
addicted to social networks, we would say the answer is yes, it is an addictive
technology. Now there are lines to be drawn, just because an individual checks
their page often wouldn't make them addicted, maybe they have a conversation going
on they wish to continue. We believe the line begins to be drawn when people
can't get off the sites not just one day but everyday. When people are
socializing but can’t get off their devices to socialize face-to-face, and when
people can't go a single day off the social network without it causing discomfort,
then addiction is starting to set in.
What are your opinions?
Where is the line drawn from a social network user being addicted or just an
advocate of the site?
8 comments:
Social networking has become an addicting thing. Facebook allows you to share pictures, statuses, and communicate with friends all around the world. Twitter allows you to post multiple statuses up and communicate and follow people. Tumblr allows you to view and post unique pictures on a blog. What if these weren't free? Would it be as addictive? I don't think so. I think that a part of the reason social networks have become so addictive is that there is no cost to use them. I also feel that a lot of them are found through word-of-mouth and I have noticed that in my generation when one person starts using something, others use it as well and the trend gets bigger and bigger. Before you know it, everyone is using it.
Monqiwa- you raise a good point when you said that if Social Networking was not free that it would not be addictive. But, an interesting way to look at that is: What if Facebook users were required to pay a fee, but all other SN sites did not. What do you think would happen then? As the number one leader in SN, do you think Facebook would become a thing of the past and that other sites would emerge as top users? Or do you feel that a sense of inertia would rise and people would be fearful to change or leave Facebook just because of a fee? This would be incredible to observe and research.
March 23, 2012 10:42 AM
It is no question that it is addictive but it is not as bad as other things which we are prone to be addicted to. This is because, you can actually be productive about it. People share educative and intelligent information on social networking sites and others use ti to promote their business.
Social networking is very addictive. It can take over some peoples lives and be the only way they know how to communicate with people. However, that isn't the case for everyone. It wouldn't be fair for people who aren't addicted to be penalized for the ones who are. It isn't Facebook, Twitter or anyone else's responsibility to keep up with people who have let these sites take over their lives. That would be like asking an alcoholic beverage to charge more because alcoholics can't partake in moderation. In both cases, people simply have to learn where to draw the line and take responsibility for themselves.
I agree that social networking is addictive. Nowadays, because the networking pages, such as Facebook, carry various informations, many people become big fans of social networking. People would like to open the web pages often for chatting with friends, checking news, and so on. Actually I don't think that is a big problem. However, as time goes by, for some people, social networking is becoming an unconscious activity. Such as some one of them closes the facebook pages and reopens the page unconsciously in 5 seconds. In this case, I think a social network user like this being addicted
In my opinion, I believe that social network are addicting and takes away a lot people's social face to face basis. The line should be drawn by a professional to determine whether someone is addicted or not.
From my experience with doing the research for my topic - Internet Addiction.
I have also discovered that it really doesn't matter how often a person is online or what they are looking at, but how it effects that persons' lifestyle. Do they constantly think about being on social networking sites when they are away from it so much that it distracts them from socializing in real life, work, and goals.
The way that this addiction takes it's course is very different than a drug addiction.
I would not say that this is not very addictive yet, but some day could be. Especially when Web 3.0 gets fully developed with the semantic perspective that could be more enchanting for steady social networking people.
It seems as if the maxim "everthing in moderation" would be a good line to draw so that people are not completely draw into and addicted to social networking. It's much the same, as others mentioned, as other addictions. If it is used as a tool, however, I think that it can be used effectively and in moderation. It becomes a problem as an unconscious addiction however, as Xiaoxuan mentioned.
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